South Africa, leaders of Group C in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Africa qualifiers, risk facing heavy sanctions for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their 2-0 victory over Lesotho last week. The team is likely to be penalized with a three-point deduction.
Mokoena reportedly accumulated two yellow cards earlier in the qualifiers, making him ineligible for the Matchday 5 encounter against Lesotho.
He was booked in Bafana’s opening match against Benin in 2023 and again in the fourth qualifier against Zimbabwe last year, meaning he should have served an automatic one-match suspension, as per FIFA’s Rule 63 governing World Cup qualifiers.
Despite being suspended under FIFA World Cup qualifying rules, which prohibit a player from playing after accumulating two yellow cards, Mokoena was named in the starting line-up against Lesotho and was a second half substitute in 82nd minute for Thalente Mbatha.
If found guilty of the violation, South Africa could be stripped of the points, which would significantly impact their chances of securing the automatic qualification spot from Group C.
“If players or team officials receive two cautions in one match (in matches decided by penalties) or in two different matches of the competition, they will be automatically suspended from their team’s subsequent match,” FIFA stated in the rule book.
Meanwhile, Lesotho Football Association (LFA) have reportedly confirmed they have sent a query to FIFA over the yellow cards accumulated by Mokoena.
But there’s uncertainty over whether Mokoena’s first yellow card was expunged at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations, but FIFA rules state clearly that bookings are accumulated “from round to round” – which would exclude the AFCON.
“The question is, was a rule broken? If yes, we are fully entitled to protest and get the points. We were made aware of Mokoena’s bookings and we have since sent a formal inquiry to CAF and FIFA,” said LFA secretary-general Mokhosi Mohapi. “We have heard that Nigeria also want to protest and they too are entitled to that because the result (last Friday) prejudices everyone. Suppose it was us who fielded a defaulter and got the points, Bafana would have done the same.”
After six round of matches, South Africa lead Group C with 13 points and are followed by Rwanda (eight points) , Benin (eight points) Nigeria (Seven points), Zimbabwe (six points) while Lesotho are in the rear with four points.
